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| Founded | 1973; 52 years ago (1973) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Allan W.B Gray |
Area served | South Africa, Namibia and Botswana |
Key people | Mahesh Cooper (Chief Operating Officer), Duncan Artus (Chief Investment Officer), Ian Liddle (Chairman) |
| Products | Retail unit trust products, Retirement products, Institutional segregated and pooled products |
| AUM | R322.5 billion (31 December 2021) |
| Website | www |
Allan Gray is aninvestment management firm headquartered inSouth Africa, established with the objective of offering a range of investments.[1] In addition to its primary location, the firm has expanded its operations to include offices inBotswana,Namibia, andEswatini, reflecting its broader geographic reach within the region. It also works in collaboration with sister companies,Orbis Investment Management and Allan Gray Australia, to leverage global investment insights and strategies. Allan Gray caters to a diverse clientele, which encompasses bothinstitutional and individualinvestors, along with insurance companies,trusts, foundations, and foreign institutions.
Allan Gray Investment Counsel was established in October 1973 byAllan W.B. Gray, securing its first client the following year.[1] To expand its global investment capabilities, the founder initiated Orbis Investment Management in 1989, focusing on international investment opportunities.[2] The company underwent a rebranding in 1992, adopting the name Allan Gray Limited.[3]
Continuing its expansion, Allan Gray Limited inaugurated its first international office inWindhoek, Namibia, in 1996.[4] Two years later, in 1998, the company broadened its product offering to include retail investment options, catering to a wider range of investors.[5] Further extending its presence in the region, the firm opened an office inGaborone, Botswana, in 2004.[6]
Allan Gray conducts its investment operations across theAfrican continent, managing a diverseportfolio of assets. The firm has a workforce of over 1,000 employees, indicating its significant scale and capacity for comprehensive investment management services. Its main office is located in the Silo District of theV&A Waterfront inCape Town, a notable area for its blend of commercial andcultural spaces.[3]
Allan Gray provides a variety of investment products designed to meet the needs ofretail investors, including a selection ofunit trusts. The firm's current portfolio for retail investors encompasses unit trust investments, tax-free savings accounts, opportunities for offshore investments, retirementannuities, preservation funds, living annuities, and endowment policies.[4]
For institutional investors, the company offers investment opportunities in unit trusts, life pooled portfolios, and segregated portfolios. These options are tailored to suit the varying requirements of different types of institutions and the scale of their investments.
Additionally, Allan Gray facilitates group savings plans for employers. This is achieved through the Allan Gray Umbrella Retirement Fund and the Allan Gray Group Retirement Annuity, designed to assist in the provision of retirement benefits.[citation needed]
Allan Gray participates in social investments primarily through the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation and E Squared, which are dedicated to the education and financial support of emerging entrepreneurs. The foundation receives an annual donation calculated as 5% of the pre-tax profits from Allan Gray Proprietary Limited, along with a $150 million endowment from Allan W.B. Gray.[5] Additionally, E Squared holds a 20% stake in Allan Gray Limited, a structure intended to allocate resources towards entrepreneurial development and education.
A controlling interest in Allan Gray is held in perpetuity by Allan & Gill Gray Foundation. Other shareholders include past and present employees and E Squared. Allan & Gill Gray Foundation is designed to exist in perpetuity to ensure that the distributable profits are ultimately devoted exclusively tophilanthropy and to promote the commercial success, continuity and independence of the Allan Gray business.[7]
